How does alcohol affect
your baby's development?
One thing is clear, if you are pregnant
and take a drink -- a glass of wine, a beer or a cocktail
-- your unborn child takes the same drink. Whatever
you eat or drink while pregnant goes directly through
your bloodstream into the placenta. Your baby is constantly
growing and developing throughout these nine months.
For the unborn child, the alcohol interferes with his
ability to get enough oxygen and nourishment for normal
cell development in the brain and other body organs.
If you consume an excessive amount of alcohol during
these crucial times of development, you may cause problems
for your baby. These are lifetime, irreversible effects
that can cause physical, mental and neurobehavioral
birth defects.
What if I drank alcohol before I knew I was pregnant?
If you were not aware that you were
pregnant and drank alcohol, the best thing you can do
now is STOP drinking. The sooner you quit, the better.
If you're pregnant and find yourself unable to stop
drinking, don't be ashamed to talk with your obstetrician.
She can recommend ways for you to find the help and
support you need to stop drinking for your sake, and
for your precious baby's sake.
How many drinks are safe in Pregnancy?
It used to be believed that drinking
moderate amounts (a drink a day) was relatively safe.
But it's only recently been discovered that children
of women who drank during pregnancy — even those
who had as little as one drink a day — were experiencing
developmental problems throughout their childhood and
even into adolescence.
The message is clear: Pregnant women
should not be drinking at all. If you're pregnant and
find yourself unable to stop drinking, don't be ashamed
to talk with your obstetrician. She can recommend ways
for you to find the help and support you need to stop
drinking for your sake, and for your precious baby's
sake.
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